Coal digging and loading machine



July 3, 1928.

Filed April 29, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. LANG, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

COAL DIGGING AND LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed April 29, 1925.

The present invention relates to mining and loading machines, and more particularly to machines ot this character for use in coal mines for digging the coal from the coal bed and loading it into cars movable on the mine tracks or other means for transporting' the coal.

Heretotore machines of the so-called double conveyor type have been employed for mining and loading coal. These machines have a swinging part which carries the cutting tool and a conveyor which delivers the coal cut from the tace ot the coal bed to a second conveyor carried by another part ot the machine which has its delivery end maintained in position to deliver the coal into mine cars movable on the mine track under the discharge end ot the second conveyor. The chief objection to machines ot this character is their large initial cost. Also the cost ot upkeep on these machines is relatively high and the machines are heavy, cumbersome and occupy a relatively large amount of space. By the present invention I have provided a coal digging and loading machine designed to overcome these objectionable features ot the double conveyor type ot ma.- chine. My improved machine hasa single conveyor adapted to deliver the coal dug from the face ot the coal bed directly into the mine cars or other means et transporta.- tion. The machine is movable as a unit on a curved track about an axis substantially coincident with the discharge end of the apparatus7 whereby the discharge end is adapted to be maintained in position to discharge the coal into mine cars movable under the discharge end of the apparatus on the mine track while the other end of the apparatus is adapted to be moved in the arc of a circle to carry the digging tool along a curved tace oit the coal bed. rhe machine is very compact and is much less expensive to build than the ,so-called double conveyor type of machine. It is also relatively light and occupies a minimum' amount of space.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a plan view of the machine in operative position in a mine, this view also Serial No. 26,620.

showing a portion ot the mine track and a mine car positioned on thetrack beneath the discharge end of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation oit the construction shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section on the line III-Hl oi' Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

The trame ot the machine has depending castings 2 located intermediate its ends in which are journaled grooved rollers 3 which engage a curved track el. Mounted on the frame ot the machine is any suitable type ot' digging device. The device herein shown is an hydraulically operated pick 5 operated by fluid pressure from a pump G which is driven by an electric motor 7. However7 it will be understood that the particular type of digging device is relatively unimportant.

The machine has a single conveyor comprising an endless chain 8 engaging sprocket wheels 9, one of which is driven through a worm 10 and worm wheel 11 by an electric motor 12. The endless chain carries 'hori- Zontally extending iights lor scrapers 1? adapted to push the coal along a suitable trough 14. The machine is provided with a suitable jack l5 having pointed plunger-s 16 for engaging the rootI and floor oi' the mine and adapted to be operated in any desired manner.

4lhe center ot curvature ot the arcuate track 4 is in a vertical line 18 adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor trough 14. It will thus be seen that the machine can be moved on the curved track from the position shown in Figure l to either of the dotted line positions shown in said ligure without moving the discharge end oi' the conveyor trough out ot' position over a mine car 19 movable on the mine tracks 20 be- 'neath said discharge end. The apparatus is adapted toperform. all of the functions of machines ot the soecalled double conveyor type. This machine is adapted to discharge the coal into a car or other means located in the center of the mine room at all times while working across the entire curved tace of the mine bed. By employing only a single conveyor1 much of the breakage which oc curs when the coal is delivered from one conveyor on to a second conveyor is eliminated. After a strip of coal has been cut from the entire circular iface of t-he coal bed, the machine being light can easily be moved forward with its track towards the circular face so as to enable another circular strip to. be cut therefrom.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment ot my invention it will be understood that the invention is not limited to its disclosed embodiment, but that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope ot the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: i

l. A coal digging and loading machine, Comprising a digging tool and conveyor means, means for supporting and guiding the entire machine for swinging movements as a unit about an axis adjacent the discharge end oiA the machine, whereby the dig ging tool is adapted to be moved along a curved face ot the mine bed while the discharge end ot the machine is maintained at substantially the same location, and other supporting means for the digging tool for engaging the root and iioor of the mine, substantially as described.

2. A coal digging and loading machine, comprising a vdi'ggimg tool and conveyor means, a curved track on which the entire machine is movable as a unit, the center of the curvature of the track being so lo,- cated with respect to the discharge end of the machine that the discharge end remains in substantially the same location in all positions oi' the machinecn the track, and other supporting means for the diggingV tool for engaging the roof and floor of the mine, substantially as described.

3. A coal digging and loading machine, having digging means and a single conveyor for delivering the material dislodged by the digging means to a mine car, the machine having means whereby it is adapted to be moved as a unit on curved track supported on the floor of the mineto move the digging' means along a curved tace ot the mine bed while maintaining the discharge end of the conveyor in position to.

deliver the material. to a mine car positioned under the discharge end, and other su )porting means lor the digging tool ior engaging the roof and floor oi the mine, substantially as described` 4;. A coal digging and loading machine, having digging means and a single ccnveyor for delivering the material dislodged by the digging means to transporting means, the machine having means whereby the same is adapted tc be moved as a unit on a curved track laid on a mine iloor to move the digging means along a curved face oif the mine bed while maintaining the discharge end oi the conveyor in substantially the same location, such discharge end being at an elevation such as to permit a. mineV car to be positioned thereunder, and other supporting means ifor the digging tool for engaging the rooi and floor of the mine, substantially as described.

5. A coal digging and loading machine, comprising a trame, a single conveyor sup" ported on the Ltrame and inclined upwardly from the front end thereof, the conveyor being adapted to discharge directly into mine car positioned under the rear end thereof, means for digging coal adjacent to the lower end of the conveyor, means for supporting the trame from a curved track whose axis is adjacentto the rear end of the conveyor, and means between said last mentioned support and the front end ot' the conveyor for engaging the roof and ioor of a mine for holding the machine in digging position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE R. LANG.

CERTFEGATE @if CURREJTEN.

Patent No. 1,676,097. @framed July 3, i928, ro

GEQRGE R. LANG.

it is hereby ceriiisd imt errsr appears die prima@ speciiicaion mi the absve numbered paeri requiring' wrresion as oiows: afer line 83, insert hey sentence "i7 is a ssrsw whiii may be operated desire-d manner for raising and lswering the pink 5."; and tha said Letters Param; shnuid be read with this correciori tiisrs ira iii@ same may ssnsrm t@ @ze remrd @i the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed airis 7th day @i Afrgirs, A. D. i928.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acing Csmmissiore si Faterrs. 

